body babbling n.— «To begin the learning process, the UC San Diego researchers directed the Einstein robot head (Hanson Robotics’ Einstein Head) to twist and turn its face in all directions, a process called “body babbling.” During this period the robot could see itself on a mirror and analyze its own expression using facial expression detection [...]read more »

Sure, there’s Grandma and Grampa, but there’s also Gammy, Bumpy, Dadoo, Gre-Gre, Kiki, Kerkel, Monga, Nee-Nee, Pots, Rah-Rah and Woo-Woo. Martha and Grant talk about the endlessly inventive names grandchildren call their grandparents. They also discuss Seinfeldisms, couch potatoes, and where in the world your car can and will be stopped by robots. Really!read more »

Ahoy, mateys! You've received another newsletter from "A Way with Words," which, like a walk around the promenade deck, is known to relieve uncomfortable internal distress. What do children call their grandparents? What is a "watershed"? Are Seinfeldisms still among us? Where'd we get "couch potato"? Plus: traffic robots, pulmonic ingressives, online style guides, follow-ups [...]read more »

bioborg n.— «We’re strange animals—animals that have modified their minds with external technologies. Even without the technologies we’re what I call “bioborgs.” We have toolkit brains containing beautifully coordinated subsystems that get on with the job of interacting with the world, only sometimes reporting back to consciousness.» —“Q & A: I, robot? No, you cyborg!” by Gary Kemble ABC [...]read more »

At First Blush (episode #1529) 07/15/2019: Book recommendations and the art of apology. Martha and Grant share some good reads, including an opinionated romp through English grammar, a Spanish-language adventure novel,... [more]

Gift Horse (episode #1528) 07/01/2019: The edge of the Grand Canyon. A remote mountaintop. A medieval cathedral. Some places are so mystical you feel like you're close to another dimension... [more]